Description

This Apple Fritter Focaccia combines the delightful flavors of cinnamon-spiced sautéed apples nestled in a soft, airy focaccia dough, drizzled with a sweet, silky glaze reminiscent of classic apple fritters. Perfect as a breakfast treat or a dessert, this recipe brings together the comforting textures of rustic Italian bread with the sweet warmth of apple fritters in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Focaccia Dough

4 cups bread flour (spooned and levelled)
1 3/4 cup lukewarm water (about 105°F)
2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil (or similar neutral-tasting oil)
1 teaspoon honey or white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons fine table salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil (for the pan and drizzling)

For the Cinnamon Apples

2 medium tart apples (peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
1/4 cup white granulated sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour

For the Fritter Glaze

2 cups icing/confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon light corn syrup (or honey or golden syrup)
1/4 teaspoon fine table salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon white granulated sugar
1/3 cup water

Instructions

Mix and Rest the Dough: In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a kneading hook, combine lukewarm water, instant yeast, vegetable oil, honey, and salt. Add the bread flour and stir until well combined. Cover with a tea towel and rest for 15 minutes.
Stretch and Fold the Dough: Perform a series of stretch and folds (gently pull the dough up and fold it over itself). Cover again and rest for another 15 minutes. Repeat another stretch and fold, then cover and let the dough rise for 1 hour until slightly puffed.
Prepare the Pan and Shape Dough: Brush 2 tablespoons vegetable oil evenly in a 9×13-inch metal baking pan. Pour the dough into the pan and stretch and fold it in the pan to shape roughly into a rectangle, but don’t stretch it fully to pan edges. Cover with a large baking sheet or plastic wrap and let rise for 1.5 hours until it spreads and rises.
Sauté Cinnamon Apples: In a skillet over medium heat, combine diced apples, 1/4 cup sugar, and lemon juice. Cook, stirring frequently, until apples soften and liquid evaporates, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cinnamon and flour until apples are evenly coated. Set aside.
Preheat Oven and Prepare Dough Surface: Preheat the oven to 425°F (non-convection). Scatter the cinnamon apples evenly over the risen dough. Using oiled fingertips, make many dimples across the dough pushing the apples slightly into it. Drizzle a little vegetable oil over the top.
Bake the Focaccia: Bake in the preheated oven for 19-23 minutes or until deep golden and baked through.
Make the Fritter Glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together icing sugar, corn syrup, salt, and vanilla extract. In a small saucepan, bring water and 1 tablespoon sugar to a boil, then simmer for 1 minute. Pour the hot sugar syrup into the icing sugar mixture and whisk until smooth and lump-free. Cover and set aside.
Glaze the Focaccia: Once the focaccia is out of the oven, let it rest for 5 minutes. Pour the glaze evenly over the top and use the back of a spoon to spread it fully. Let the focaccia cool further to allow the glaze to set before cutting into squares to serve.

Notes

Note 1: If using active dry yeast instead of instant yeast, dissolve it in the lukewarm water with the honey and let it proof for 5-10 minutes until foamy before mixing with the flour.
Note 2: Use tart apples like Granny Smith or Braeburn for a nice balance of tartness and sweetness.
Stretch and fold technique helps develop gluten structure without heavy kneading. To perform, gently stretch the dough up and fold it over itself 4 times in the bowl.
The dough may feel sticky initially but will become more manageable after resting and folding.
Use a kitchen scale and metric measurements for best accuracy and consistent results.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 23 minutes
Category: Bread, Breakfast, Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/12 of focaccia)
Calories: 260 kcal
Sugar: 15 g
Sodium: 280 mg
Fat: 7 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 45 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 5 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: apple fritter focaccia, cinnamon apple bread, sweet focaccia, homemade focaccia, breakfast bread, apple cinnamon glaze